AFL: Kurt Tippett earning team-mates' respect ahead of Swans debut

Star Sydney recruit Kurt Tippett has impressed team-mates with his attitude as he prepares to make his debut for the AFL premiers on Saturday.

Tippett will play mainly as a forward against Port Adelaide at Football Park after serving out an 11-game suspension imposed for his involvement in Adelaide's salary cap breaches.

The former Crow has quickly gained the respect of his new club-mates, even if he failed miserably in his task of organising team dinners, according to Sydney defender Ted Richards.

"His attitude towards coming to this club has been fantastic," Richards said.

"He's really embraced the club and everyone, and we can see how excited he is about playing this weekend.

"It definitely has been a bit of a change up in intra-club practice games when I've got to man up on this massive unit, but he's been a great injection to the club."

Richards said the Swans were not fazed by suggestions Tippett could encounter hostility from disgruntled Crows fans at Saturday's game on his return to Adelaide.

"A lot of people have been speaking about the hostility that's going towards Kurt, but it's not as if when I run out, or if any of the other blokes run out, the Port or Crows fans are clapping us," Richards said.

Fourth-placed Sydney will hope its bye last week has not stalled the side's momentum after three impressive wins on the trot.

"You might look at it from that perspective that we did have some momentum, but at the same time, it's been a pretty intense first half of the season," Richards said.

"A lot of the guys, myself included, really looked forward to that bye, just for an opportunity to set ourselves for the second half of the season."

While Sydney's backline has taken on a new look with long-term injuries to Rhyce Shaw and Alex Johnson and the retirement of Marty Mattner, Richards was full of praise for rookie defender Dane Rampe, who has played nine games including all of the last seven.

"Dane Rampe in particular, how he's been able to slot in really quick coming off the rookie list, has been a real credit to him and we really value the role he plays every week," Richards said.